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Grace to You
Philippians 1.2
K. Elijah Layfield
1 Paul and Timothy,
bond-servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who
are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: 2
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
“John Newton had been raised in a Christian home in England in his very early years. But he was orphaned at the age of six and lived with a non-Christian relative. There Christianity was mocked, and he was persecuted. At last, to escape the conditions at home, Newton ran away to sea and became an apprentice seaman in the British navy. He served in the navy for some time. At last he deserted and ran away to Africa. He tells in his own words that he went there for just one purpose: ‘to sin his fill.’
In Africa he joined forces with a Portuguese slave trader, and in this man’s home he was very cruelly treated. At times the slave trader went away on expeditions, and the young man was left in the charge of the slave trader’s African wife, the head of his harem. She hated all white men and took out her hatred on Newton. He tells that she exercised such power in her husband’s absence that he was compelled to eat his food off the dusty floor like a dog.
At last the young Newton fled from the treatment and made his way to the coast where he lit a signal fire and was picked up by a ship on its way to England. The captain was disappointed that Newton had no ivory to sell, but because the young man knew something about navigation, he was made a ship’s mate. He could not even keep this position. During the voyage he broke into the ship’s supply of rum and distributed it to the crew so that the crew became drunk. In a stupor Newton fell into the sea and almost drowned.
Toward the end of the voyage near Scotland, Newton’s ship encountered heavy winds. It was blown off course and began to sink. Newton was sent down into the hold and told to man the pumps. He was frightened to death. He was sure the ship would sink and he would drown. He worked the pumps for days, and as he worked he began to cry out to God. He began to remember verses he had been taught as a child, and as he remembered them he was miraculously transformed—he was born again! He went on to become a great preacher and teacher of the Word of God in England. It was this John Newton who wrote:
The grace that Newton wrote about is the active motivation by Paul, this epistle, and the passage that is before us. Yet, many think of grace as nothing more than a good luck charm. Church members can not tell you the gospel and they draw a blank stare when asked to define grace. Also, the world is as opposed to grace as it could be. It (in its own eyes) does not need grace, does not want grace, and will not have grace. Why? “Grace is a provision for men who are so fallen that they cannot lift the axe of justice, so corrupt that they cannot change their own natures, so averse to God that they cannot turn to Him, so blind that they cannot see Him, so deaf that they cannot hear Him, and so dead that He Himself must open their graves and lift them into resurrection.” [2]
The problem with man’s view of grace is man’s view of man. The world and some false brethren say that man is intrinsically good. That despite their small problems—drinking, smoking, lying, cheating, sexual laxity, gluttony, gambling—they believe they are good people. There is no reason for Christ to die, nor for them to repent. They have no understanding of why God must judge them, if they even believe that He will judge them. They ask what is there to judge because they try to live a good life. Then, if they are saved, they bring these thoughts into Christianity and the outcome is that man is able to save himself. Man is able to believe on Christ, because "I did it". Because of man’s choice, he is born again. This view negates grace.
Man also has a view of God that is utterly blasphemous. When people become brutally honest, they admit that they are not perfect. But instead of seeking grace to cover their sin, they trust that God MUST have mercy. They have this idea that forgiveness is God's job. The idea is that God sits on his throne in heaven and forgives and that is all that He is capable of doing. Because God created man, He must be obligated to save man. Since all have sinned, God must show everyone favor and forgive them. But we must, to live a victorious Christian life, understand our dependance upon grace. So Paul writes to the Philippians, the phrase "grace to you" is much more than a greeting. The phrase is the very purpose for his writing. He is writing that grace might come to the Philippians. So what is grace?
Grace is Not Merited, It is a Divine Favor
Grace is Not Obligatory, It is a Sovereign Choice
Grace is Not Contingent, It is a Free Act
Grace is Not Powerless, It is an Omnipotent Attribute
1. Grace is Not Merited
We do not earn the grace of God because of anything we have done. It is not based on our goodness. On man’s part, we are in rebellion against God. We are slaves to sin. We are dead in our transgressions and sins. There is nothing good about us. There is nothing good in us. There is nothing that we can do to earn the favor of God. The only thing we earn by merit and work is God’s judgment which is everlasting hell. Grace is his divine favor upon us for no other reason that He desires to pour it out on us. Grace is mercy given to us even though we deserve judgment.
2. Grace is Not Obligatory
God does not have to pour out grace upon us. We do not receive the grace of God because of who we are as humans. It is not based on our humanity. God is not obligated to save anyone. God is obligated to judge everyone because that is who He is--a God of absolute justice. And we have scorned this judge and by grace He has not dealt with us as we deserved. So He is obligated to meet out the justice for His action, looking over our sin, and our actions, looking over His glory. He must judge the sin. But grace and mercy is never obligatory. If God withholds grace from some or pours it out on others, it is His prerogative. It is His gift to give to whomever He pleases. He is not obligated to give grace to anyone.
3. Grace is Not Contingent
Just as we do not earn His favor, His bestowing grace upon us is not contingent upon any act of faith or good work. Just as he had favor on Jacob while he was in the womb, before he had done anything good or bad—so He chooses to have mercy upon whomever He will. And grace needs nothing else to be grace. Grace is sufficient for us, just as grace was sufficient for Paul. There is no act of man which grace waits upon to become full grace. Grace works like a birthday gift. If, when your friend gave you a gift, you scrambled into your pocket to thrust ten dollars into your friend's hands, what would that do the gift? The item would no longer be a gift, but something you purchased. It is the same with grace. It must be received. Although grace makes us debtors to God, we do not dare pay God back. In this way, grace is not contingent. To honor God would be to receive more grace. We must receive Grace.
4. Grace is Not Powerless
There is also no barriers to God's grace. The walls of Jericho fall before God's grace, as do the armies of the world fall before His omnipotent, overcoming grace. If God has chosen for His grace to be poured out upon a people, then that people will receive His grace and be changed. God is not in heaven cowering because people will not receive His grace. God is in heaven changing sinful men into overcoming saints. God is in heaven drawing forth His elect by His overcoming grace.
God’s grace is God’s loving knowledge of you before the universe was ever created. He knew you, and loved you and promised you eternal life (ultimate knowledge of Him). Then, by His grace, He sent Jesus Christ to the earth. The Son of God became man and died for your sins. He died to purchase you from the bondage of sin. The grace of God in Christ’s atonement is such that it was complete. There is nothing needed to add to His atonement of your sin. No human activity can make you worthy of His grace. It is His grace that makes you worthy of Him. Grace regenerates a sinner into a saint that lives a life totally dependant upon grace. Through grace, God does the giving, we do the receiving.
So in what sense does Paul want grace to come to the Philippians? We shall see that in verse 7, Paul commends the Philippians and hopes the Philippians shall become greater "partakers of grace." This is how he would like grace to come the Philippians--in such a way that they would partake of more grace. We partake of grace in our regeneration: God makes us alive and grants us faith to believe in His promises (which are given in grace since we do not deserve those promises). Then the Christian is daily sanctified, made more holy, by faith which is a trusting in the promises of God each day. So in bringing those promises to the believers in Philippi, Paul is the means of grace in their lives.
1. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. Divine Greeting
The word translated ‘grace’ in this verse is also the noun form of the word “greetings”. This is the apostle Paul taking a secular idea and normal greeting, and shaping it to carry truth about God to the readers. The idea is that not only is Paul greeting the believers, he hopes that grace will greet them as well. He wants grace to come to the reader. We must always find ways to greet people with grace. Oh believer, become a means of grace to someone. Do no let your study in the Word of God be just a means for your own partaking of grace. Search out those promises that may increase the believer's faith and bring grace to that believer. Transform what is worldly into that which is grace filled.
B. Divine Peace
Notice that this peace is accomplished in our relationship to God and in relation to the events that happen to us. In knowing that our sins our forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God not war. Whereas God was at war with the sinner, now mercy has been extended and there is peace that shall never be broken between God and his children. We know, therefore, that whatever happens to us is not punishment for our sins (that was taken care of by Christ), our circumstances are the acts of keeping us at peace with God. And since God shall not allow anything to happen to us to disturb that divine peace, we shall peacefully accept whatever happens to us. For Paul teaches that when the omnipotent power of God's grace is at work in the believer, then the believer should be anxious for nothing. For God shall turn everything, good and bad, in to the ultimate good of the believer. This creates a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is a peace that allows believers to rejoice when they are persecuted, exult in their weaknesses, carry a cross, and deny themselves to follow Christ.
C. Divine Order
1. No peace without grace. Inward peace springs from a sense of divine favour. And until God has extended mercy to us in the form of Christ Jesus, He can not and does not favor us with peace. There can be no peace where grace has not paved a way.
2. No grace and peace but from God our Father, the fountain and original of all blessings, the Father of lights, from whom comes down every good and perfect gift, as it says in James 1:17.
3. No grace and peace from God our Father, but in and through our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ, as Mediator, is the channel of conveyance of all spiritual blessings to the church, and directs the disposal of them to all his members (These three statements are found in Mathew Henry's Commentaries ).
This work of grace and peace is the very purpose of God at work in your life. It is the work of the Trinity, as it says in 1 Peter 1:2 "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure". So Paul's hope is that you would receive grace and peace this morning. Receive God's work of grace through Christ. Receive God's peace which surpasses all understanding. For we agree with Saint Augustine, “You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you.” [3]
[1] James Montgomery Boice, Philippians (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000), p. 24-25.
[2] G.S. Bishop
[3] Thomas A. Hand, Augustine on Prayer (New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1986), p. 17 (On the Happy Life, 11).
“John Newton had been raised in a Christian home in England in his very early years. But he was orphaned at the age of six and lived with a non-Christian relative. There Christianity was mocked, and he was persecuted. At last, to escape the conditions at home, Newton ran away to sea and became an apprentice seaman in the British navy. He served in the navy for some time. At last he deserted and ran away to Africa. He tells in his own words that he went there for just one purpose: ‘to sin his fill.’
In Africa he joined forces with a Portuguese slave trader, and in this man’s home he was very cruelly treated. At times the slave trader went away on expeditions, and the young man was left in the charge of the slave trader’s African wife, the head of his harem. She hated all white men and took out her hatred on Newton. He tells that she exercised such power in her husband’s absence that he was compelled to eat his food off the dusty floor like a dog.
At last the young Newton fled from the treatment and made his way to the coast where he lit a signal fire and was picked up by a ship on its way to England. The captain was disappointed that Newton had no ivory to sell, but because the young man knew something about navigation, he was made a ship’s mate. He could not even keep this position. During the voyage he broke into the ship’s supply of rum and distributed it to the crew so that the crew became drunk. In a stupor Newton fell into the sea and almost drowned.
Toward the end of the voyage near Scotland, Newton’s ship encountered heavy winds. It was blown off course and began to sink. Newton was sent down into the hold and told to man the pumps. He was frightened to death. He was sure the ship would sink and he would drown. He worked the pumps for days, and as he worked he began to cry out to God. He began to remember verses he had been taught as a child, and as he remembered them he was miraculously transformed—he was born again! He went on to become a great preacher and teacher of the Word of God in England. It was this John Newton who wrote:
Amazing grace!
How
sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was
lost, but
now am found;
The grace that Newton wrote about is the active motivation by Paul, this epistle, and the passage that is before us. Yet, many think of grace as nothing more than a good luck charm. Church members can not tell you the gospel and they draw a blank stare when asked to define grace. Also, the world is as opposed to grace as it could be. It (in its own eyes) does not need grace, does not want grace, and will not have grace. Why? “Grace is a provision for men who are so fallen that they cannot lift the axe of justice, so corrupt that they cannot change their own natures, so averse to God that they cannot turn to Him, so blind that they cannot see Him, so deaf that they cannot hear Him, and so dead that He Himself must open their graves and lift them into resurrection.” [2]
The problem with man’s view of grace is man’s view of man. The world and some false brethren say that man is intrinsically good. That despite their small problems—drinking, smoking, lying, cheating, sexual laxity, gluttony, gambling—they believe they are good people. There is no reason for Christ to die, nor for them to repent. They have no understanding of why God must judge them, if they even believe that He will judge them. They ask what is there to judge because they try to live a good life. Then, if they are saved, they bring these thoughts into Christianity and the outcome is that man is able to save himself. Man is able to believe on Christ, because "I did it". Because of man’s choice, he is born again. This view negates grace.
Man also has a view of God that is utterly blasphemous. When people become brutally honest, they admit that they are not perfect. But instead of seeking grace to cover their sin, they trust that God MUST have mercy. They have this idea that forgiveness is God's job. The idea is that God sits on his throne in heaven and forgives and that is all that He is capable of doing. Because God created man, He must be obligated to save man. Since all have sinned, God must show everyone favor and forgive them. But we must, to live a victorious Christian life, understand our dependance upon grace. So Paul writes to the Philippians, the phrase "grace to you" is much more than a greeting. The phrase is the very purpose for his writing. He is writing that grace might come to the Philippians. So what is grace?
Grace is Not Merited, It is a Divine Favor
Grace is Not Obligatory, It is a Sovereign Choice
Grace is Not Contingent, It is a Free Act
Grace is Not Powerless, It is an Omnipotent Attribute
1. Grace is Not Merited
We do not earn the grace of God because of anything we have done. It is not based on our goodness. On man’s part, we are in rebellion against God. We are slaves to sin. We are dead in our transgressions and sins. There is nothing good about us. There is nothing good in us. There is nothing that we can do to earn the favor of God. The only thing we earn by merit and work is God’s judgment which is everlasting hell. Grace is his divine favor upon us for no other reason that He desires to pour it out on us. Grace is mercy given to us even though we deserve judgment.
2. Grace is Not Obligatory
God does not have to pour out grace upon us. We do not receive the grace of God because of who we are as humans. It is not based on our humanity. God is not obligated to save anyone. God is obligated to judge everyone because that is who He is--a God of absolute justice. And we have scorned this judge and by grace He has not dealt with us as we deserved. So He is obligated to meet out the justice for His action, looking over our sin, and our actions, looking over His glory. He must judge the sin. But grace and mercy is never obligatory. If God withholds grace from some or pours it out on others, it is His prerogative. It is His gift to give to whomever He pleases. He is not obligated to give grace to anyone.
3. Grace is Not Contingent
Just as we do not earn His favor, His bestowing grace upon us is not contingent upon any act of faith or good work. Just as he had favor on Jacob while he was in the womb, before he had done anything good or bad—so He chooses to have mercy upon whomever He will. And grace needs nothing else to be grace. Grace is sufficient for us, just as grace was sufficient for Paul. There is no act of man which grace waits upon to become full grace. Grace works like a birthday gift. If, when your friend gave you a gift, you scrambled into your pocket to thrust ten dollars into your friend's hands, what would that do the gift? The item would no longer be a gift, but something you purchased. It is the same with grace. It must be received. Although grace makes us debtors to God, we do not dare pay God back. In this way, grace is not contingent. To honor God would be to receive more grace. We must receive Grace.
4. Grace is Not Powerless
There is also no barriers to God's grace. The walls of Jericho fall before God's grace, as do the armies of the world fall before His omnipotent, overcoming grace. If God has chosen for His grace to be poured out upon a people, then that people will receive His grace and be changed. God is not in heaven cowering because people will not receive His grace. God is in heaven changing sinful men into overcoming saints. God is in heaven drawing forth His elect by His overcoming grace.
God’s grace is God’s loving knowledge of you before the universe was ever created. He knew you, and loved you and promised you eternal life (ultimate knowledge of Him). Then, by His grace, He sent Jesus Christ to the earth. The Son of God became man and died for your sins. He died to purchase you from the bondage of sin. The grace of God in Christ’s atonement is such that it was complete. There is nothing needed to add to His atonement of your sin. No human activity can make you worthy of His grace. It is His grace that makes you worthy of Him. Grace regenerates a sinner into a saint that lives a life totally dependant upon grace. Through grace, God does the giving, we do the receiving.
So in what sense does Paul want grace to come to the Philippians? We shall see that in verse 7, Paul commends the Philippians and hopes the Philippians shall become greater "partakers of grace." This is how he would like grace to come the Philippians--in such a way that they would partake of more grace. We partake of grace in our regeneration: God makes us alive and grants us faith to believe in His promises (which are given in grace since we do not deserve those promises). Then the Christian is daily sanctified, made more holy, by faith which is a trusting in the promises of God each day. So in bringing those promises to the believers in Philippi, Paul is the means of grace in their lives.
1. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
A. Divine Greeting
The word translated ‘grace’ in this verse is also the noun form of the word “greetings”. This is the apostle Paul taking a secular idea and normal greeting, and shaping it to carry truth about God to the readers. The idea is that not only is Paul greeting the believers, he hopes that grace will greet them as well. He wants grace to come to the reader. We must always find ways to greet people with grace. Oh believer, become a means of grace to someone. Do no let your study in the Word of God be just a means for your own partaking of grace. Search out those promises that may increase the believer's faith and bring grace to that believer. Transform what is worldly into that which is grace filled.
B. Divine Peace
Notice that this peace is accomplished in our relationship to God and in relation to the events that happen to us. In knowing that our sins our forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we have peace with God not war. Whereas God was at war with the sinner, now mercy has been extended and there is peace that shall never be broken between God and his children. We know, therefore, that whatever happens to us is not punishment for our sins (that was taken care of by Christ), our circumstances are the acts of keeping us at peace with God. And since God shall not allow anything to happen to us to disturb that divine peace, we shall peacefully accept whatever happens to us. For Paul teaches that when the omnipotent power of God's grace is at work in the believer, then the believer should be anxious for nothing. For God shall turn everything, good and bad, in to the ultimate good of the believer. This creates a peace that surpasses all understanding. It is a peace that allows believers to rejoice when they are persecuted, exult in their weaknesses, carry a cross, and deny themselves to follow Christ.
C. Divine Order
1. No peace without grace. Inward peace springs from a sense of divine favour. And until God has extended mercy to us in the form of Christ Jesus, He can not and does not favor us with peace. There can be no peace where grace has not paved a way.
2. No grace and peace but from God our Father, the fountain and original of all blessings, the Father of lights, from whom comes down every good and perfect gift, as it says in James 1:17.
3. No grace and peace from God our Father, but in and through our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ, as Mediator, is the channel of conveyance of all spiritual blessings to the church, and directs the disposal of them to all his members (These three statements are found in Mathew Henry's Commentaries ).
This work of grace and peace is the very purpose of God at work in your life. It is the work of the Trinity, as it says in 1 Peter 1:2 "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure". So Paul's hope is that you would receive grace and peace this morning. Receive God's work of grace through Christ. Receive God's peace which surpasses all understanding. For we agree with Saint Augustine, “You made us for yourself, and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you.” [3]
[1] James Montgomery Boice, Philippians (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2000), p. 24-25.
[2] G.S. Bishop
[3] Thomas A. Hand, Augustine on Prayer (New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1986), p. 17 (On the Happy Life, 11).